10 best face serums for sensitive skin in Australia for 2024
Dodge inflammation and irritation troubles with these “game-changing” face serums – no flare-ups necessary!
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Got sensitive skin woes? We feel you. Prone to inflammation, irritation or dehydration, this kind of skin can be a headache to buy for, especially with so many triggering skincare products on the shelves.
Whether your skin dilemma is caused by genes or environmental stressors, don’t sweat. Many serums are now formulated with sensitive skin in mind, so managing it with the right beauty buy can be done!
While we recommend doing a patch test first before trying any new serums to make sure there’s no issues for your personal scenario, brands like The Ordinary, SkinCeuticals, and La Roche-Posay could have just the answer you’re searching for.
Or, try the COSRX’s Snail Mucin Essence favoured by A-lister Emily Ratajkowski ever since her “skin freaked out” during Covid lockdowns.
Read on for our picks of the best serums to incorporate into your skincare routine.
OUR TOP PICKS
BEST FACE SERUM FOR SENSITIVE SKIN FOR EVERYDAY USE
Medik8 Hydr8 B5, $90, at The Iconic
Medik8 Hydr8 B5
What You Need To Know
Designed for daily use, morning and night, Medik8’s Hydr8 B5 is formulated to plump and add hydration to the skin. It does this thanks to its ingredients like hydraulic acid which aims to penetrate deep below the skin’s barrier to draw hydration from the level below and Vitamin B5 to help with the skin’s water retention. Translation: you’ll feel fresher for longer.
“This is amazing my skin’s appearance and feel looks totally moisturised, hydrated a dream under day cream and visible lines have been reduced,” one five-star reviewer, who was a fan of the product, wrote. “Hopefully wrinkles keep reducing and I keep this lovely glow.”
BEST AFFORDABLE FACE SERUM FOR SENSITIVE SKIN
The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid, from $15.90 at Adore Beauty
The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid
What You Need To Know
On a budget? The Ordinary is the ultimate go-to for providing quality beauty products without a hefty price tag. The brand’s Hyaluronic Acid is affordable at $28 for its full-size option (or only $15.90 for travel size) and works by drawing upon hydrating ingredients such hyaluronic acid molecules.
“Definitely would recommend, it gives you glassy skin that you will love!” wrote one five-star reviewer.
Another was left impressed by the hydrating serum’s price, praising, “This stuff worked out so well with my skin! And not expensive for how good it is.”
BEST FACE SERUM FOR BREAKOUT-PRONE SENSITIVE SKIN
iS Clinical Hydra-Cool Serum, $168.75 at Amazon Australia
iS Clinical Hydra-Cool Serum
What You Need To Know
Prone to breakouts and want to avoid a serum that will mess with your complexion? This iS Clinical Hydra-Cool Serum could be where to turn for your next beauty buy.
In their five-star reviews, customers noted the suitability for those with breakout concerns as well as the hydration that gave dehydrated skin a new lease on life thanks to ingredients like hydraulic acid.
“I have combination/sensitive/sometimes breakout prone skin and this does not irritate or break out my skin in any way,” an Amazon reviewer penned. “It soaks in quickly (does not leave a blue tint on skin despite the colour of the serum) and always leaves my skin feeling hydrated. The feel of this serum is more slippery/silky as opposed to sticky like some serums.”
BEST BRIGHTENING FACE SERUM FOR SENSITIVE SKIN
Caudalie Vinoperfect Brightening Dark Spot Serum, $113 at Sephora
Caudalie Vinoperfect Brightening Dark Spot Serum
What You Need To Know
Infuse your complexion with a little extra love by adding Caudalie Vinoperfect Brightening Dark Spot Serum to your daily routine. Targeting dullness and reducing the appearance of dark spots, the brightening serum was described by one five-star Amazon reviewer as “a little costly” but “works great in eliminating dark spots if you use it everyday.”
The reviewer went on to add, “I’m not a person that’s big on smells, but this product has a nice light scent. It works great under makeup. I’m on my third bottle and highly recommend it.”
BEST VITAMIN C FACE SERUM FOR SENSITIVE SKIN
SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic Serum, $242 at Myer
SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic Serum
What You Need To Know
We know, Vitamin C can sometimes feel like it’s off-limits, but if you’re willing to brave it, this is the one to try. High praise for this face serum is not in short supply, with compliments from its five-star reviewers calling it “liquid gold in a bottle”, “the GOAT” and “the Holy Grail”.
Despite its price (an eye-watering $242) SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic Serum has earned a well-deserved reputation as one of the best hydrating serums out there, leaning on key ingredients such as Vitamin C and antioxidants.
“I have been using this amazing product for the last three years and my skin has never looked so much better since,” wrote a five-star reviewer, adding, “Quite expensive but worth it as a bottle last me around 10 months. Have been recommending it to all my friends and family.”
A different customer also noted the price but determined it was ultimately worth the splurge again in future.
“I am addicted, and although it’s expensive, once you start using it, you won’t go back to anything else,” the five-star review read.
BEST HYALURONIC ACID FACE SERUM FOR SENSITIVE SKIN
La Roche-Posay HyaluB5 Hyaluronic Acid Serum, $74.95 at Priceline
La Roche-Posay HyaluB5 Hyaluronic Acid Serum
What You Need To Know
Hello, hydration! La Roche-Posay HyaluB5 Hyaluronic Acid Serum is lightweight yet locks in moisture, especially when paired with moisturiser. It’s also a good option for anti-ageing, with ingredients that aim to re-plump skin, reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and target skin elasticity woes. While it’s ideal for all skin types, this option is particularly handy for dry skin as the product’s formulation is designed to penetrate the skin barrier and go beyond surface hydration. One five-star online reviewer called La Roche-Posay’s HyaluB5 Hyaluronic Acid Serum “excellent” and added that they “have used this a very long time. Effective and kind to my rosacea prone skin.”
BEST FACE SERUM FOR SENSITIVE SKIN TO REDUCE REDNESS
Aveeno Calm + Restore Triple Oat Serum, $30.46 at Amazon Australia
Aveeno Calm + Restore Triple Oat Serum
What You Need To Know
Dubbed the “best serum for sensitive skin” by one happy five-star reviewer, this Aveeno offering aims to provide a hydrating feeling, calm irritated, dry skin as well as reduce redness.
“I have tried many serums for sensitive skin but this is definitely the best by far,” raved one five-star review. “On first use together with the Aveeno face cream settled my irritated itching skin also my skin stayed moisturised for the whole day. Amazing.”
BEST ANTI-AGEING FACE SERUM FOR SENSITIVE SKIN
CALM Repairing Serum, $52 (down from $65) at Paula’s Choice
CALM Repairing Serum
What You Need To Know
With a formula that aims to fight signs of premature ageing like the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, Paula’s Choice’s CALM Repairing Serum also claims to immediately ease redness and calm irritation.
The hydrating serum has garnered praise from users who struggle to find products that don’t cause issues from their skin type.
One impressed online reviewer gave the hydrating serums five stars, credited it as “saving” their skin.
“I initially got this product with no expectations at all. I mean, I always buy new skincare and my skin flares up since it’s super sensitive to EVERYTHING … [but] it has not reacted once,” the reviewer wrote. “I will keep buying it for the rest of my life.”
BEST EXFOLIATING FACE SERUM FOR SENSITIVE SKIN
Alpha-H Midnight Reboot Serum, from $29.95 at Adore Beauty
Alpha-H Midnight Reboot Serum
What You Need To Know
Previously known as Liquid Gold Midnight Reboot Serum, this luxe offering is a cult favourite and suits those with sensitive skin.
The Alpha-H Midnight Reboot Serum aims to assist with common skin problems such as helping to improve skin texture by tackling uneven skin tone and pigmentation and minimising the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
One online reviewer called it a “gamechanger”, calling it “an incredible product that does exactly what is says on the bottle and leaves my sensitive skin looking smoother and clearer.”
BEST KOREAN FACE SERUM FOR SENSITIVE SKIN
COSRX Snail Mucin Power Essence, $16.49 (down from $38) at Amazon Australia
COSRX Snail Mucin Power Essence
What You Need To Know
While snail secretion might sound like an odd main ingredient, its popularity is having a bit of a resurgence in recent years, particularly in K-beauty and on TikTok thanks its anti-inflammatory properties. The affordable COSRX Snail Mucin Power Essence option (currently on sale for $16.49) is incredibly popular. In fact, A-lister Emily Ratajkowski swears by it to get her glow.
“So my skin freaked out at the beginning of quarantine but now I’m using Dr Loretta cleanser, this amazing snail [product] – yes snail – then I put a retinol on,” she revealed on Instagram back in 2020 while holding up the essence.
Everyday customers also seem to be huge fans, with the product clocking up 46k five-star reviews and achieving the impressive feat of being Amazon’s ongoing number one serum.
“Such a luxurious feel on the skin, soaks in well and very quickly, and leaves my skin feeling hydrated and refreshed,” one five-star Amazon reviewer raved, describing it as “a wonderful product” that “blew me away”.
The reviewer added, “Personally I don’t love scented skincare as I’m quite sensitive to those harsh chemically smelling things on my skin and prefer things with little or no scent. This product has no scent and I love it.”
What To Look For When Buying Face Serums For Sensitive Skin
Price: Are you on a budget and looking for a product that’s affordable? Or is it a priority to get your hands on the best product that will solve your skin woes no matter the cost? In the latter case, a more exxy facial serum may be worth the splurge.
Formula: Look for products formulated with gentle, lightweight textures that are fragrance-free or have no artificial colours or preservatives that might irritate particularly sensitive skin.
Ethics: Was this serum made using cruelty-free and/or vegan ingredients?
Ingredients: Avoid using too many active ingredients that could cause irritation or inflammation for your skin type if you want to protect yourself from flare-ups. Hyaluronic acid is generally considered suitable for all skin types to hydrate and retain moisture, Vitamin B5 can help to reduce the appearance of redness. Soothing aloe vera is also an ideal common ingredient that works with this skin concern.
How We Choose Products
With hundreds of face serums available, it’s impossible to test every product out there. To help you find the best face serum, we tested a bunch of well-known brands at different price points. In addition, our shopping team read hundreds of customer reviews and looked at test results and ratings from product review sites to find the best face serum for sensitive skin.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can You Use Active Ingredients If You Have Sensitive Skin?
Many people who have sensitive skin may be fearful of products that feature active ingredients – and with good reason. Common ingredients and vitamins such as Vitamin C, vitamin A (aka retinol) and AHAs can be strong and may cause irritation. Avoid bombarding your skincare routine with two many actives to give your skin a break and introduce these potent ingredients slowly into your regime. Vitamin B or hyaluronic acid are ideal ingredients to consider for hydration needs and to lock in moisture.
How Do I Know Which Face Serum Is Right For My Skin Type?
More Coverage
Not sure how to pick the right option for you? Consider your skin type and personal preference when shopping for the perfect beauty buy. Those with oily or acne-prone skin may want to opt for a lightweight water-based serum. An oil-based formula may be more up the alley for those with dry skin while gel-based are a good go-to for combination skin. Those with sensitive skin may want to pay close attention to active ingredients, to ensure the product doesn’t lead to irritation or flare-ups.
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